Isaac Kleiner

“Now, now, there is nothing to be worried about; we have made major strides since then...major strides.”

~ Dr. Kleiner on that cat.

Dr. Isaac Kleiner at his lab in City 17

Dr. Isaac “Izzy” Kleiner (Referred to as Alex Kleiner in the Half-Life Strategy Guide) is a brilliant, but absent-minded, scientist and one of the leading members of the resistance movement against the Combine.

Early Career

Prior to the events of the Black Mesa Incident Dr. Kleiner was regarded as a brilliant scientist and one who was amongst the top of his field, appearing at least once on the cover of Popular Scientist magazine. He was a professor of Theoretical Physics in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where Dr. Gordon Freeman was one of his students.

Doctor Kleiner in Half-Life

Dr. Kleiner worked in the Black Mesa Research Facility, both in the Anomalous Materials laboratory and on the teleportation technology. His exact position in Anomalous Materials is unknown but, interestingly, both B. Calhoun’s letter concerning his reassignment to Anomalous Materials and Dr. Colette Green’s letter concerning the alteration of an Anomalous Materials test were forwarded to him. He also recommended Gordon Freeman for the position of research associate in the Anomalous Materials laboratory.

Although Doctor Kleiner does not officially appear in any Half-Life game prior to Half-Life 2, he is often speculated to be one of the scientists encountered in Half-Life. He is commonly thought to be the scientist accompanying Eli Vance near the beginning of the game, although this scientist uses the “Einstein” model and not the “Walter” model, which Doctor Kleiner is based off of.

He is sometimes also thought to be a scientist near the end of the game, who greets you at the Lambda Complex while holding a shotgun and accompanied by a guard holding a 9mm pistol. This scene is similar to a scene that occurs in Half-Life 2, where Doctor Kleiner opens the door to his teleportation chamber while gripping a shotgun. This scientist uses the correct model but addresses Gordon in a quite formal way, very unlike the way Doctor Kleiner addresses Gordon in Half-Life 2.

Half Life 2

Doctor Kleiner is one of the leading members of the Combine-resistance movement. Although he is far too distracted to lead the rebellion, he tirelessly works on technologies to benefit mankind and rid the Earth of the Combine. Several days after the beginning of the City 17 uprising, Kleiner is reunited with Gordon and Alyx, Alyx then helps Kleiner to teleport himself to the White Forest Resistance Base, several miles away from City 17. Dr.Kleiner then helps to finish and organise the rocket which has been stored in White Forest for a number of years. The rocket is then launched which then closes the Portal covering city 17 after the citadel's destruction.

Kleinercast

Dr. Kleiner in one of his Kleinercasts

After the successful City 17 Rising, Dr. Kleiner hijacked the Combine’s network of video screens in order to relay information and provide a morale-boost to the citizens of City 17. He gives both good and bad news: declaring a great triumph over the Combine, but warning of their inevitable retribution; light-heartedly informing people that the Combine’s reproductive suppression field is no longer in effect but also warning them of the danger of the Citadel’s imminent destruction.

Other Interests

Dr. Kleiner with his pet headcrab, Hedy Lamarr

As well as being a brilliant physicist, Dr. Kleiner shows expertise both in practical engineering and biology. He is not only able to do the calculations for his teleportation technology, but also build the devices needed. He was able to upgrade a HEV suit from a Mark IV to a Mark V. He displays a great interest in the anatomy of headcrabs, sketches of which can be seen displayed on his notice board, and is the first known person to have successfully “debeaked” a headcrab, namely, his pet, Hedy Lamarr.

Relationships

Dr. Kleiner’s closest and oldest human relationship is with Dr. Eli Vance (Who affectionately calls him Izzy). They worked together in Black Mesa, both on the Anomalous Materials staff and on teleportation technology and now head the resistance movement against the Combine. It is unknown how Eli's death will effect Kleiner's actions and emotions in Episode 3.

He also has a close relationship with Eli’s daughter, Alyx. Alyx grew up in Black Mesa seeing Dr. Kleiner as an uncle-figure. Now that Alyx is an adult, they still regard each other with affection, with Dr. Kleiner often making thoughtful, and possibly inappropriate, complements.

Perhaps Dr. Kleiner’s closest relationship is with that of his pet headcrab, Hedy Lamarr. Although Lamarr has been debeaked, and is therefore relatively harmless, she is still partially wild and has been known to try and attack, or couple with, people, particularly Barney Calhoun. Despite her nature, Lamarr appears to actually show some sort of loyalty to Dr. Kleiner; returning to him when they are separated and huddling close to his leg when nervous.

Miscellaneous

Harry S. Robin providing the voice for Isaac Kleiner

• Doctor Kleiner is voiced by Harry S. Robins, who provided the voices for all of the Scientists in Half-Life.
• Dr. Kleiner's face is based off of the face of Ted Cohrt, an accountant working for a company resident above Valve Software's office.